News of: Monday, 19th of May, 2008

Front Page

Police last night arrested Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami at his Moghbazar residence hours after BNP leaders Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and M Shamsul Islam were sent to jail on surrender to a Dhaka court.

Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami was finally arrested last night on graft charges.As police went to make the arrest, several hundred Jamaat leaders and workers gathered around his Maghbazar residence and staged fierce demonstrations amid heavy downpour.

A special court yesterday framed charges indicting detained former premier Sheikh Hasina and seven others in the Tk 3 crore graft case in connection with setting up 100MW barge-mounted power plant in Khulna.

The much-talked-about dialogue between the government and political parties would not be fruitful without participation of the two major political parties--Awami League (AL) and BNP, an adviser of the caretaker government said yesterday.

The Council of Advisers yesterday approved the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance 2008 with a tough legal provision for death sentence as the maximum penalty or life imprisonment of an offender along with his patron and shelter-giver.

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former secretary general of BNP, yesterday urged the party workers to strengthen the party by uniting under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, forgetting all the past confusion and disputes.

Samajik Protirodh Committee, an alliance of 46 women, human rights and social organisations yesterday demanded that the caretaker government immediately cancel the 'so-called review committee” formed for the National Women Development Policy (NWDP) 2008 and reject all its recommendations.

Detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday filed a petition with the High Court (HC) for quashing the proceedings against her in the Niko graft case filed by the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC).

A Jessore court yesterday framed charges against former BNP minister Tariqul Islam and four of his family members in a case filed for hiding information about wealth to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

President Bush lectured the Arab world yesterday about everything from political repression to the denial of women's rights but ran into Palestinian complaints he is favoring Israel in stalled Mideast peace talks. "Freedom and peace are within your grasp," Bush said despite scant signs of progress.

Editorial

KNEE-JERK reactions to incidents are almost always counter-productive. And yet a knee-jerk reaction to the recent blasts in Jaipur has come from the authorities in Rajasthan. The off-handed way in which the police administration in the Indian state has pointed the finger at extremist elements in Bangladesh raises a good number of questions about the manner in which such a conclusion has been drawn. A senior police officer has told the media that the way the bombs were manufactured and concealed in bags is similar to the way Huji operate. Now, that is as queer a conclusion as any. Are we now to suppose that terrorists can be identified through the bags they use? And is it fair, even before thorough investigations have been undertaken, to draw inferences the objective of which is clearly targeting a country, in this case Bangladesh?

JUST take a pause and think of the impregnable stature our garment sector has reached in recent times defying daunting odds. Pitted against the storms of post-MFA challenge, internal political turbulence, closure of factories, labour unrest over minimum wages and poor working conditions, the sector has evolved into a reputable state worthy of attention in newer areas of the world. The credit goes to 2.5 million skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in woven, knit wear and textile sectors, of whom remarkably 80 percent are women.

EVEN though much more remains to be done, Pakistan and India seem to have made a major breakthrough on the issue of the much-hyped gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India late last month. Given the history of the project, tied as it is to the mercurial bilateral relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, as well as domestic politics in both the countries, optimism without reservation would, however, be unwarranted. This approximately 2775 km pipeline project has already bumped into uncertainty, with India somewhat sidelining it since the US nuclear deal was under consideration in the Lok Sabha. Several other factors also stood in the way of materialisation of the IPI although the idea was broached originally as far back as in 1993, when it was expected to cost $3.3 billion. With the prospect of the US nuclear deal having been shelved for now, India has renewed its interest in the project, although its cost has now escalated to $7.6 billion.

OLD rules get old because they have legs to walk through generations. Time, then, to recall one of the oldest: When you are dead, lie down. So many politicians simply don't get this, whether they are provincial wannabes like the erstwhile Congress satrap from Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Das, or the woman who wanted the White House, Hillary Clinton.

ON May 6, bdnews24.com quoted Bangladesh Bank's (BB) Deputy Governor Nazrul Huda as saying that BB would hold back issuing licenses to private commercial banks (PCB) for opening new branches if they didn't slash interest rate spread (IRS) between deposit and lending. He also warned about taking measures against PCBs with regard to opening of foreign exchange branches and other issues.

Sports

Nazmul Hossain kept Abahani in the Premier League title race with a telling four-wicket burst that spelled doom on Bangladesh Biman in the vital Super League tie at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

Luca Toni scored a hat-trick to secure his place as the Bundesliga's top-scorer as Bayern Munich broke the 20-year record for the least goals conceded in a league season after Saturday's 4-1 win over Hertha Berlin.

First-half goals by Zahidul Islam Rajan and Tariq Aziz gave Usha Krira Chakra solo lead in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Hockey League table for the first time after the defending joint champion's 2-0 defeat of Mariner Youngs Club yesterday.

Reefat Bin Sattar and Abdullah Al Rakib lost in the tenth round of the Mayors Cup 1st International Open Chess tournament yesterday in Mumbai but their fellow Bangladeshi grandmaster Ziaur Rahman drew with Uzbekistan GM Anton Filipov.

Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday threatened to take "all actions including legal" against Pakistan's daily Nation for its report that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was questioned at the Karachi airport for allegedly carrying a large number of syringes.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director in Dhaka has said Bangladesh has the potential to achieve 7 percent or more economic growth a year, despite challenges of political uncertainty, weak infrastructure and vulnerability to natural disaster.

Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and Bureau of Manpower Export and Training (BMET) yesterday singed a Memorandum of Undersatnding (MoU) to help the unskilled and semi skilled workers from the monga-affected (near famine situation) areas.

FBCCI President Annisul Huq yesterday urged a visiting Turkish delegation to convey the message for their potential investors to invest in Bangladesh, where the investment policy is very transparent and favorable.

There is an established saying-an increase of 10 mobile phones per 100 people boosts GDP growth by 0.6%. In the recent years Bangladesh mobile sector witnessed a phenomenal growth with a staggering BDT 24,000 crore flowing into this sector, subscriber base increased from mere 4 million in 2004 to 40 million in April 2008. Mobile sector now contributes 1.46% of GDP and this sector contributed BDT 5,639 crore to the government in 2007 in terms of direct and indirect tax, VAT, revenue sharing with Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board. The contribution in 1997 stood at only BDT 62 crore.

Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) overwhelmingly approved new labor agreements with General Motors and Chrysler, rounding out the year's contracts with North America's Big Three auto producers, the union said Saturday.

The Indian government has decided to import 1.5 million tonnes of pulses in 2008-09 fiscal through public sector trading agencies, a move aimed at increasing the domestic availability and curb rising prices of the commodity.

Metropolitan

Teachers' salary at primary level, especially in non-government primary schools, will have to be raised to ensure quality education by attracting meritorious persons to this profession, said the educationists at a view-exchange meeting yesterday.

A group of health experts yesterday opposed the government's decision to lease around 516 community and union clinics to different private healthcare organisations, service delivery contractors and non-government organisations.

Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday threatened to forge movement along with other like-minded parties to force the government to implement their 11-point charter of demands including lifting of the state of emergency immediately for making the upcoming parliamentary election free, fair and credible.

The draft National Child Labour Policy, which was circulated for opinions from the stakeholders, will soon be placed before the Council of Advisers for approval, said Labour and Employment Adviser Anwarul Iqbal yesterday.

Leaders of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) at a meeting yesterday said national unity created during the liberation war and mass upheaval in '90 should be the base of the national charter proposed by the chief adviser (CA) in his address to the nation, says a press release.

The High Court yesterday stayed for three days operation of an ad-interim injunction by the lower court directing newly elected Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Secretary Advocate Nurul Islam Sujan not to continue his function.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food assistance to meet the immediate food needs of over 120,000 people affected by rodent attack in Rangamati and Bandarban districts.

A writ petition was filed yesterday with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of some actions of the Election Commission (EC) including its rules making the political parties' registrations mandatory.

Bangladesh Christian Association demanded punishment of the culprits who have raped a mother and her daughter and killed the daughter at South Vadarti village under Kaliganj upazila in Gazipur on April 30.

Dutch Ambassador Bea ten Tusscher yesterday called on Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and discussed the prospects of widening economic and political relations between the two friendly countries.

National

Experts at a seminar here yesterday urged the government to include the proposed surface water based North Rajshahi Irrigation Project (NRIP) in the upcoming budget to increase food production in there district.

Tangail BNP faces a leadership crisis as four ministers and state ministers during BNP-led alliance government from the district are either in jail or virtually inactive since declaration of emergency.

At least 17 persons including two members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were injured during a chase and counter chase between villagers and Rab members at Bramhangram village under Kasba upazila in the district Saturday night.

The Chittagong Government College authorities Saturday night lodged a general diary (GD) with Chandgaon police station (PS) following recovery of missing answer scripts of masters preliminary examinations near a pond at Bahadda here.

Letters

It is an established truth that without women's participation national development cannot be expedited. Every year we observe May Day in a befitting manner. We hold meetings and seminars, but that don't change the lot of the common people. University teachers, NGO representatives and human rights activists are seen in these seminars. But the ground situation remains unchanged.

When one looks back to the agriculture scene of the past in Bangladesh, it would be seen that the government agencies motivated farmers to use fertilisers to increase farm production. Urea and other fertilisers are indispensable to get higher production. The farmers agitate when they do not get fertilisers. The media tries to influence the government to maintain an adequate supply and to keep the prices low. If any problem arises, the government is blamed. The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) has set up some fertiliser factories and has been operating those for a long time. The demand of fertilisers has been increasing rapidly. The local production can meet only 50 per cent of our requirements. But in the past fifteen years, the last three elected governments and private entrepreneurs did not come forward to set up any fertiliser factory . About 1.5 million metric tons of fertilisers has to be imported every year.

This year Bangladesh witnessed a bumper production of potatoes. An extra 3 million metric tones of potato has been produced by the farmers. The World Food Program (WFP) has also declared 2008 as the Potato Year.

Atiqa Odho has conducted an interesting interview with former Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The interview was one of the products of Odho Corporation telecast by GEO news channel of Pakistan on the evening of 10 May 2008. The outcome of the interview can be, in many respects, considered as revealing, lesson bearing, advisory, and an antidote or a response (or both) to the present day criticism of the acts and deeds during his (I mean, PM Aziz) premiership. Aziz was appreciative, in relevant ways, when it comes to matters pertaining to effectiveness of overall leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and his personal commitment towards Pakistan and Pakistanis, among other things.

The prices of essential commodities are shooting up. I hardly go to kitchen market because I am dependent on others but the reaction from them and the media is really terrible & pathetic. The queue for OMS (BDR market) is lengthening. The middle class people are the worst sufferers, as they can neither buy from the shops, nor stand in the queue.

“Two top Bangladeshi political parties” and two top leaders are under prosecution since the current caretaker government has taken over. We all know the caretaker government is trying to bring back democracy. I just cannot grasp why our political leaders are mounting pressure on the government for unconditional release of the two top leaders. They should rather understand that by establishing the rule of law they can free their leaders (if they are innocent) .

I noted with interest the itinerary of Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood's visit to Bangladesh. Significantly, a visit to Savar is missing from his trip here. Why? All dignitaries, and particularly dignitaries from Pakistan, should be taken to the Smriti Shoudho in Savar to pay respect to the millions killed by the Pakistani army, in one of the worst genocides of the 20th century. At a time when Bangladesh is agitating for the trial of war criminals, why is Mr. Mahmood not being taken to the Smriti Shoudho? Surely, the Pak Air Force chief could spare an hour of his time to pay his respect to the martyrs of 1971.

This morning we have heard and watched two important reports on Channel- i. These are regarding a) anti-corruption drive seminar b) Acquisition of 3 -crop agriculture lands in Munshiganj for EPZ. I think both the reports deserve close scrutiny.

It is a universal fact that any government worth its name is responsible for the welfare of its people. The Burmese military junta has shown themselves as an exception. It is reported by the Indian authorities that they had informed Burmese authorities that the cyclone was moving towards the Burmese coast two days before it struck Burma.

Those involved in the real estate sector of Bangladesh are aware that there are arrangements for land development by developers on a 40:60 or 50:50 sharing basis and landowners have to bear no construction costs for their share of apartments. It would be highly appreciated if a clarification is given on how to update the tax-file of a landowner after the land is completely developed and ready apartments are handed over to the landowner, and whether the landowner is required to pay any taxes.

Islam respects women more than any other religion. It has given permission to women to work anywhere using hijab but our fundamentalist Islamic leaders want to keep the women caged even in the 21st century. The government should take necessary steps to contain obscurantism.

Some men and women earn greatness during their lifetime by making outstanding contribution to their own nation, or to the world civilization. As a mark of respect and gratitude to these great persons and to glorify their contribution, institutions and establishments are generally named after them after they die. This is also done to inspire the members of the younger generation to follow the footsteps of these great souls. But in Bangladesh we just see an opposite trend. Here some people in authority, especially the politicians, who are mostly corrupt, are in a great hurry to immortalize themselves while they are still alive! They don't want to wait till their death when people could evaluate their contribution and, if felt necessary, could decide to name some institution(s) after them. In the last three decades, we saw a mad rush by the corrupt political leaders of our country to name educational institutions, students' halls of residence, hospitals and other welfare institutions after their own names. In almost all such cases these persons did not spend money from their own pockets to establish these institutions. They all did it either by managing the required money out of the public exchequer, or by indulging in extortion from the general public, by exercising their political power. All this is being done in very bad taste, to say the least.

I have been reading for long the pieces written by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in op-ed pages of The Daily Star. His recent articles, mostly on the ensuing US presidential elections (I remember one exception being an article suggesting that Bangladesh consider giving honorary citizenship to some noted Indians who were born in Bangladesh), have been interesting. But I am constrained to point out one particular streak of opinion in his recent articles on US presidential elections: the betting horse must always win the race, no matter what. The week before last i.e. before the Indiana and South Carolina primaries, he bemoaned Senator Obama's several political mistakes; criticised him for his failure to denounce his one-time religious leader, Jim Wright; took him to task for his unguarded comments regarding the mental make-up of small-town voters in Pennsylvania; and seemed to have rebuked Senator Obama for remaining elitist in attitude (gulp the coffee being offered even if you need orange juice).

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has warned that the recent blasts in Jaipur were of a piece with the objectives of their perpetrators to derail improving ties with Pakistan. Dr Singh also spoke on Saturday of the need to thwart these attempts with a sound strategy.

Political parties will not become hostage to President Pervez Musharraf's wishes but they had to have a working relationship with him “despite our reservations”, according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Britain's controversial foreign and military policy has made UK the hub of Islamic terrorism across Europe, and turned the country into a fertile ground for jihadist recruiters, a report by the EU warned.

Rival Lebanese leaders pressed on with talks on Sunday to try to end a feud that pushed the nation towards all-out sectarian war, with the focus on a disputed electoral law and the divisive issue of Hezbollah weapons.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pitched for a federal crime agency, the BJP on Sunday questioned his commitment to fight terror and said a new agency would be of no use unless it is armed with a POTA-type stringent anti-terror law.

Attempting to lay a symbolic claim to his party's presidential nomination, Democrat Barack Obama will mark the latest round of primary voting with a rally in Iowa, where his solid win in January caucuses propelled him to his status as the front-runner.

Mahmudul Haque, whose solo exhibition is on at the Bengal Gallery, is exhibiting in Bangladesh after five years. In between he has participated in various joint exhibits as in Romania, Brussels, the US etc.

The Santals, one of the indigenous communities of the northern districts, welcomed the Chief Adviser (CA) Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed last Thursday with their traditional songs and dances, marking the Boro harvest in Dinajpur.

After nearly five years, popular rock band Warfaze is set to release their new album. The album A Chosen Glimpse is expected to be released in Bangladesh and in India sometime in July. The album includes reproductions of some of their popular songs.

OP-ED

"They let us cook rice-daal for them, let us raise their children, trust us with the keys to house-home-jewelry. And then they turn around and vote for people who call us terrorists and want to cut us into pieces and bury us inside the ground." -- Bangladeshi taxi driver in Delhi (author interview, 2005)

THE sacred Buddha Purnima is the full-moon day of Vesakha, when Goutama Buddha was born in the Lumbini Garden at the foot of the Himalayas, attained enlightenment under the Bo-tree at Gaya, and passed into Mahaparinibbana at Kushinara. This day is of great significance to the Buddhist world, and brings love, peace, happiness and purity.

YOUR campaign has been brilliant. It has given you more support and more momentum than most analysts expected a year ago. Keeping things simple and vague has worked so far, and it might work all the way to the White House. "Change you can believe in" is a great all-purpose slogan. It allows every person to fill in his or her own interpretation of what it means. In some ways, it's reminiscent of Jimmy Carter's 1976 promise to run "a government as good as the American people."

Star City

Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), the second largest medical college of the country, has only 11 classrooms for around 660 students, which is quite inadequate for smooth running of academic activities.